A new mental health app for teenagers and young people has been launched offering free 24/7 access to therapists and real-time support.

The Hidden Strength app is aimed at young people aged 13-24 in crisis or struggling with their mental health.

It’s a place to anonymously come together and support each other, with round-the-clock access to tools and activities that promote holistic mental wellbeing.

The app launch follows research commissioned by Hidden Strength, which found that of the 3.3 million people in the UK aged 13-24 suffering from something that affects their mental health. In the South West, 43% of young people say they are suffering from mental ill-health and three quarters (76%) would take up therapy if it was free to access – more than any other region in the country.

Hidden Strength will help combat the UK’s growing mental health crisis which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; its research revealed more than half (52%) of young people in the South West who are suffering from mental ill-health have only done so since the first lockdown in March 2020, whilst a whopping 85% say their condition has worsened in the last 14 months. This trend is also set to continue, with 27% of young people in the South West saying they feel very anxious about the return to normal once lockdown restrictions lift.

Dr Dawn Harper, practicing NHS GP, TV presenter and member of the Hidden Strength Advisory Board: “Working as an NHS GP, I have seen a worrying increase in the number of young people suffering with mental health issues in recent years. The effect of the pandemic has sadly exacerbated the problem, so I was delighted to join the team at Hidden Strength to help combat the issue with such an innovative solution.

“The Hidden Strength app is a unique ‘one stop shop’ for mental health and wellbeing for teenagers and young adults, allowing them to access reliable support where and when they need it, in a safe and secure way.”

The app will fill a gap in the provision of mental health services for young people who say their needs aren’t fulfilled by options currently available. According to Hidden Strength’s research, more than half (53%) of young people with mental ill-health in the South West would like to be able to access mental health support 24/7, with a third (32%) saying they would like this to be anonymous and nearly half (46%) preferring to access support digitally via an app or website.

Linsey Lunny, Founder and CEO, Hidden Strength: “As a mother of two children entering their teen years and reflecting on my own mental health experiences in my youth, I was conscious that now, more than ever, adolescents need a reliable source of information and support. The global pandemic has seen them face insurmountable mental health challenges, yet identifying trustworthy resources online can be like finding a needle in a haystack and professional support can come with long waiting lists, high fees and often doesn’t cater to the way young people live and behave.

“Hidden Strength will transform the mental health provision for young people. As a safe, free-to-use platform in an environment that is familiar and appealing to young people, it will ensure they get the advice, guidance and support that they need at any time of day – both peer-to-peer, and in the form of fully qualified, on-demand therapists.”

App Features:

Sign Up & Connecting:

Hidden Strength has a strictly enforced age restriction. Only those aged 13-24 can sign up via a secure identity verification process.

Hidden Strength is private by default. When users join the platform, they choose a username to identify them on the platform so their real-name is never visible to other users if they wish. By default, nothing is shared publicly and no one else on the platform can see them. They can optionally choose friends to connect with, but they must know their mobile number in order to invite them to connect with them on the platform.